Cheltenham festival was unusually ill-tempered at times last week. Maybe it’s the narky digital age we live in; all the instinctive hair-trigger outrage that’s the default setting for any kind of annoyance. But there was a cranky vibe to much of it that seemed to capture the zeitgeist. In many ways the most obvious flashpoint … Read more
We crunch the numbers behind four days of astonishing success for the Carlow trainer where he won all three of the week’s major races Willie Mullins and his family, jockeys and yard staff celebrate with the 2026 Cheltenham Festival Leading Trainer trophy at the end of the festival(Image: ©INPHO/Tom Maher) Willie Mullins was crowned leading … Read more
Superb Supreme kicks off one of the most unpredictable Festivals in recent memory Talk The Talk, with Sam Ewing up, jumps the last on their way to winning the Jack McInerney Memorial Hurdle at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival last November. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Racing fans have waited with bated breath for this year’s Cheltenham Festival … Read more
The Willie Mullins-trained Kel Histoire has been backed from 12/1 at the start of the week into the 6/1 favourite for the two-and-a-half-mile contest Owner JP McManus with trainer Willie Mullins(Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy) There has been a big gamble on a JP McManus horse in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle ahead of next … Read more
The multiple Grade 1-winning rider was stood down after suffering a fall at Thurles 14:46, 05 Mar 2026Updated 14:47, 05 Mar 2026 Danny Mullins celebrates after winning the Coral Cup on Jimmy Du Seuil at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival(Image: ©INPHO/Tom Maher) Danny Mullins was stood down for the day after suffering a fall at Thurles … Read more
Mark Walsh will be replaced as JP McManus’ retained jockey at the end of the season Mark Walsh and JP McManus (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy ) JP McManus’ decision to appoint Harry Cobden as his retained rider last month didn’t surprise many. In fact, it was pretty much expected after weeks of speculation that Cobden would … Read more
It’s a drizzly, grey day in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, where I’m meeting history-making jockey Rachael Blackmore. We’re in Rachel’s Cafe, the bustling restaurant of a sprawling garden centre. “They’ve spelt your name wrong,” I say in mock indignation, pointing at the sign, and she laughs and says, “well spotted”. Blackmore is one of those Rachaels … Read more
Shorts, flip-flops, flimsy frocks and winning style on display for day two of Kildare horse-racing festival Racegoer Katie Young, from Kildare, on day two of the Punchestown Festival. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile Standing on stage in the exposed suntrap of the Bollinger Champagne tent, it was hard not to feel a modicum of sympathy for the … Read more
Willie Mullins has said the main issue that caused so many false starts at last week’s Cheltenham Festival was starting races on a bend. Starting procedures came under the spotlight during the festival with seven races affected by false starts and controversy over the effects of consequent standing starts on some runners. A number had … Read more
Day Four schedule 1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2.0: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle 2.40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares Steeple Chase (Grade 2) 3.20: Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (Grade 1) 4.0: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase 4.40: St James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase 5.20: Martin Pope Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle There’s a person wandering … Read more